As the U.S. rushes for Americans and their allies to escape the chaos in Afghanistan, a growing number Republicans question why the U.S. should accept Afghan citizens who have worked side-by-side with Americans. This further exacerbates the divisions within the party as it heads into next year’s midterm election.
A week ago, while the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan was still in focus, ex-President Donald Trump issued a statement stating that “civilians” and other people who have done good things for our country should be allowed to seek refuge. But, in recent days, Trump has warned of the dangers posed to those fleeing their country just before the end of the month deadline.
He asked, “How many terrorists will Joe Biden bring to America?”
While Republicans are scathingly critiquing Biden’s first major foreign policy crisis in history, others are turning to Trump’s nativist and anti-immigrant rhetoric during his four years as president. Others in the party are dismaying at the idea, believing that the U.S. should be looking out for those who have helped Americans over the past two decades.
“I think these false narratives about terrorists are just — and they’re completely basedless in reality,” Olivia Troye, an ex-White House homeland security adviser and currently director of the Republican Accountability Project, said. “There is no intelligence or national security basis for this.”
Veteran Republican pollster Neil Newhouse said that the rhetoric indicates a “general, overall increase in concern” about terrorist threats in the country after Afghanistan’s fall. This is not only from individuals who have not been properly vetted but also for a year or two in the future.
He said, “There’s just the sense that we are less secure as a nation as a consequence of this.”
Biden’s administration stressed that all people who are allowed to enter the U.S. have been thoroughly vetted by U.S. officials, who work around the clock. Trump and his supporters are demanding that Americans be given priority for evacuation. They also warn of the dangers of Afghans being rescued during one of the largest civilian airlift operations in history.
Talk intensified after a suicide bomber ripped through Kabul’s crowd, killing 13 U.S. military personnel and more than 150 Afghans.
Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont) tweeted, “How many American military personnel must die to evacuate unvetted refugees?” “Get American citizens out, and bring our troops home.”
Ted Cruz (Republican from Texas) visited Fort Bliss’ Dona Ana Range complex, where many refugees will be accommodated. Later, he tweeted that the U.S. should rescue Afghans who have assisted the US military. But they should go to neutral and safe third countries.
He stated, “They shouldn’t come to US without a FULL security screening.”
This was in response to a Wednesday call by James Comer (the top Republican on House Oversight and Reform committee), asking for the administration’s briefing on its efforts to vet Afghan refugees and stop terrorists entering the country.
In letters to secretaries of homeland security, he stated that “in the chaotic circumstances left after the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan, we are especially concerned that terrorists or other people who want to harm the United States might seek to infiltrate it disguised as those who assisted in coalition forces in Afghanistan.”
Others, such as Republican governors or members of Congress have taken a different position, welcoming refugees into their states and working tirelessly to assist those fleeing. The effort to assist Afghan family members and friends is one of the most pressing issues on Capitol Hill.
Since Aug. 14, the United States and its allies have evacuated more 100,000 Afghans, including over 5,100 Americans. Although the priority of the United States is to evacuate Americans, these numbers reflect the demographics and needs of the people fleeing.
According to U.S. officials, approximately 500 Americans want to leave Afghanistan. Others want to remain. Many Afghans, including those who were American fixers, interpreters, and other support personnel, want to flee, as they fear that the Taliban will use them as a prey for their retribution.
However, Republicans continue to accuse the Biden administration for failing to put Americans first.
Republican J.D. said that “We are actually prioritizing Afghan refugees much more than we are prioritizing our citizens.” Vance is running for Senate in Ohio. He has repeatedly made television appearances criticizing the administration’s approach.
Fox Business Network reported that he claimed, with no evidence, that the U.S. had “no knowledge of” 90% of those being evacuated. He also said some people have been found on broad-ranging terror databases.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who rose to prominence through incendiary remarks, said that Americans are put last in every way. But Americans pay for it all.
Trump, his former policy advisor Stephen Miller, and conservative commentators Tucker Carlson have gone even further. They use the same anti-immigrant language as Trump’s 2015 speech in which he announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination.
Trump stated, “You can be certain the Taliban, now in total control, didn’t allow the brightest and best to board these evacuation flight flights.” We can only imagine the number of terrorists who were airlifted from Afghanistan to other parts of the globe.
Carlson has warned about Afghans invading America.
This rhetoric demonstrates the transformation of a party once dominated by neoconservatives, who advocated interventionist nation building policies and invaded Afghanistan (and then Iraq) nearly 20 years ago.
However, not all Republicans are on board.
Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), whose office has worked around the clock for the rescue of the “countless” Afghans that he claims deserve evacuation, criticised his party members who used “terrorist rhetoric.”
He said, “I would suggest that they do their homework.” “When you speak to the people we’ve spoken to, you can see their service records… you’ll notice that they sleep in the exact same tents, carry arms together and have been in live firefights. How dare anyone doubt whether they are worthy to travel to this country or a safe country?
Tillis said, “We are not just talking about walking down the street picking and choosing people.” These people are known to us. We know their children. We also know their service records. It is quite clear that someone who takes this position, every single time, insults a service member who views these people as brothers and sisters.”
Many Afghans who seek to enter the U.S. under the Special Immigration Visa program are doing so because they have worked with U.S. forces. Adam Bates, International Refugee Assistance Project policy counsel, stated that these individuals had been thoroughly vetted by U.S authorities prior to applying for the program. They are then again thoroughly vetted “by many federal agencies” before visas are issued.
Troye, who spent considerable time in Afghanistan over the years said that Americans became very close to Afghans they served with.
She said, “These people became like our family.” “It is really shameful that some Republicans speak in this manner about people who risked their lives for us, who were actually our allies on ground.”
